Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

A cellular telephone or other wireless communications device supports
association with a third party sponsor other than a network operator. The
device establishes default user interface settings for the user interface
consistent with association with the network operator. The device then
determines a desired association with one or more third party sponsors.
Based upon the desired association, the device retrieve third party
sponsor settings. The device then alters its user interface settings
based upon the third party sponsor settings, wherein the altered user
interface settings differ from the default user interface settings. The
device then communicates with a third party sponsor server computer via
the communications interface to exchange information relating to
operation of the cellular telephone. Multiple third party sponsors could
share access to the user interface. The third party sponsor may be a
business, a group of individuals, or another entity.

Claims:

1. A cellular telephone comprising:a communications interface operable to
service wireless communications with a cellular network infrastructure of
a network operator; anda user interface including a display and at least
one input device;processing circuitry coupled to the communications
interface and to the user interface, the processing circuitry operable
to:establish default user interface settings for the user interface
consistent with association with the network operator;determine desired
association with a third party sponsor;based upon the desired
association, retrieve third party sponsor settings;alter the user
interface settings based upon the third party sponsor settings, wherein
the altered user interface settings differ from the default user
interface settings;communicate with a third party sponsor server computer
via the communications interface to exchange information relating to
operation of the cellular telephone.

2. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein determining a desired
association with a third party sponsor is based upon receipt of data from
a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) associated with the cellular
telephone.

3. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein in determining desired
association with a third party sponsor, the processing circuitry is
operable to:identify via a display of the user interface a plurality of
available third party sponsors; andreceive input via the user interface
indicating selection of the third party sponsor of the plurality of
available third party sponsors.

4. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable to:determine desired association with a second third
party sponsor, the second third party sponsor differing from the third
party sponsor;based upon the desired association with the second third
party sponsor, retrieve second third party sponsor settings;alter the
user interface settings based upon the second third party sponsor
settings, wherein the altered user interface settings differ from the
default user interface settings; andalternate between the user interface
settings based upon the third party sponsor settings and the user
interface settings based upon the second third party sponsor settings.

5. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable to:receive a Coder/Decoder (CODEC) from the sponsor
computer in response to association with the third party sponsor;
andenact the CODEC to process custom content received from the third
party sponsor server computer.

6. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable to:receive electronic advertisements from the third
party sponsor server computer; anddisplay the electronic advertisements
upon the display.

7. The cellular telephone of claim 1:further comprising a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver coupled to the processing circuitry;
andthe processing circuitry operable to present on the display a location
of the cellular telephone and the location of at least one third party
sponsor site on a map.

8. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein:wherein retrieving third
party sponsor settings includes downloading a sponsor related ringtone;
andaltering the user interface settings based upon the third party
sponsor settings include enabling the sponsor related ringtone for
communication announcement.

9. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein:wherein retrieving third
party sponsor settings includes downloading a sponsor telephone
directory; andaltering the user interface settings based upon the third
party sponsor settings include displaying availability of the sponsor
telephone directory.

10. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable to upload user data to the third party sponsor server.

11. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable:to receive a sponsor sales media interface; andalter the
user interface to include the sponsor sales media interface.

12. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable:to receive at least one sponsor web site link; andalter
the user interface to include the at least one sponsor web site link.

13. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is
further operable:to receive a sponsor gaming interface; andalter the user
interface to include the sponsor gaming interface.

14. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
communications interface, the user interface, and the processing
circuitry is configurable based upon the third party sponsor settings.

15. A method for operating a cellular telephone comprising:establishing
default user interface settings for a user interface of the cellular
telephone that are consistent with association with a network
operator;determining a desired association with a third party
sponsor;based upon the desired association, retrieving third party
sponsor settings;altering the user interface settings based upon the
third party sponsor settings, wherein the altered user interface settings
differ from the default user interface settings;communicating with a
third party sponsor server computer via a communications interface of the
cellular telephone to exchange information relating to operation of the
cellular telephone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining a desired association with
a third party sponsor is based upon receipt of data from a Subscriber
Identity Module (SIM) associated with the cellular telephone.

17. The method of claim 15, determining desired association with a third
party sponsor, the method further comprises:identifying via a display of
the user interface a plurality of available third party sponsors;
andreceiving input via the user interface indicating selection of the
third party sponsor of the plurality of available third party sponsors.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:determining desired
association with a second third party sponsor, the second third party
sponsor differing from the third party sponsor;based upon the desired
association with the second third party sponsor, retrieving second third
party sponsor settings;altering the user interface settings based upon
the second third party sponsor settings, wherein the altered user
interface settings differ from the default user interface settings;
andalternating between the user interface settings based upon the third
party sponsor settings and the user interface settings based upon the
second third party sponsor settings.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving a Coder/Decoder
(CODEC) from the sponsor computer in response to association with the
third party sponsor; andenacting the CODEC to process custom content
received from the third party sponsor server computer.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving electronic
advertisements from the third party sponsor server computer;
anddisplaying the electronic advertisements upon a display of the
cellular telephone.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:determining a location of
the cellular telephone by accessing a Global Positioning System (GPS)
receiver of the cellular telephone; andpresenting on a display of the
cellular telephone a location of the cellular telephone and the location
of at least one third party sponsor site on a map.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:wherein retrieving third party sponsor
settings includes downloading a sponsor related ringtone; andaltering the
user interface settings based upon the third party sponsor settings
includes enabling the sponsor related ringtone for communication
announcement.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein:wherein retrieving third party sponsor
settings includes downloading a sponsor telephone directory; andaltering
the user interface settings based upon the third party sponsor settings
include displaying availability of the sponsor telephone directory.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising uploading user data to the
third party sponsor server.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving a sponsor sales
media interface; andaltering the user interface to include the sponsor
sales media interface.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving at least one
sponsor web site link; andaltering the user interface to include the at
least one sponsor web site link.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving a sponsor gaming
interface; andaltering the user interface to include the sponsor gaming
interface.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising reconfiguring at least one
of a communications interface, the user interface, and processing
circuitry of the cellular telephone based upon the third party sponsor
settings.

29. A cellular telephone comprising:a communications interface operable to
service wireless communications with a cellular network infrastructure of
a network operator; anda user interface including a display and at least
one input device;configurable processing circuitry coupled to the
communications interface and to the user interface, the processing
circuitry operable to:establish a default processing circuitry
configuration consistent with association with the network
operator;determine desired association with a third party sponsor;based
upon the desired association, retrieve third party sponsor settings;alter
the processing circuitry configuration based upon the third party sponsor
settings, wherein the altered processing circuitry configuration differs
from the default user interface settings;communicate with a third party
sponsor server computer via the communications interface to exchange
information relating to operation of the cellular telephone;at least one
of the communications interface, the user interface, and the processing
circuitry is configurable based upon the third party sponsor settings.

30. The cellular telephone of claim 29, wherein at least one of the
communications interface and the user interface is also configurable
based upon the third party sponsor settings.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/242,977, filed Sep. 16, 2009, which is incorporated
herein in its entirety for all purposes.

[0005]Communication systems are well known. Communication systems include
wired communication systems such as the Public Switch Telephone Network
(PSTN), the Internet backbone, Local Area Networks (LANs), fiber optic
networks, cable networks, and various other communication networks
serviced by wired or hard media. Wireless communication systems include
cellular communication networks, Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs),
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), and Wireless Personal Area Networks
(WPANs). Cellular networks, WWANs, and WLANs are typically supported by
wired network infrastructures. Cellular networks include base stations
that service wireless links with cell phones. WWANs include access points
that support communications with WWAN enabled devices. WLANs also
typically include an infrastructure and one or more access points that
support communications for WLAN enabled devices. WPANs typically support
point to point communications between two or more WPAN enabled devices.
Examples of WLANs include 802.11x networks, examples of WPANs include
Bluetooth networks, examples of WWANs include WiMAX networks, and
examples of cellular networks include CDMA networks, TDMA networks, WCDMA
networks, FDMA networks, and/or various other types of wireless links
serviced. For example, cellular networks may include North American CDMA
networks such as those that are currently installed, GSM networks, North
American TDMA networks, WCDMA networks, and/or various other types of
communication standardized networks.

[0006]Cellular phones are typically associated with a single cellular
network service provider. New cellular phones, while manufactured by
various companies, in order to receive service from a particular cellular
network, are associated with the cellular network. Such association is
typically established with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that a
subscriber inserts into his/her cellular phone. The SIM card has an
association with a particular servicing network provider and validates
the cell phone with that network service provider. Of course, a cell
phone may roam and receive service from differing network service
providers, with particular roaming charges applied to the subscribed
user. Further, when a user travels to remote locations that are not
serviced by a primary network service provider he/she may obtain another
SIM and insert the SIM in his/her cell phone to receive service from a
differing cellular network.

[0007]Association of the cell phone with a particular network service
provider typically includes the cell phone having a user interface based
upon the association with the network service provider. For example, a
cell phone that is subscribed with AT&T may include AT&T network service
provider information displayed to a user on a display of the user
interface. In such case, the AT&T logo may be displayed upon the cell
phone. Further, various other characteristics of the cell phone are
determined based upon the association of the cell phone with AT&T as the
network service provider.

[0008]Due to limitation no association with a single network service
provider to the cell phone, the user is somewhat constrained in his/her
ability to operate the cell phone. While some cell phones may be
customized by the user, such customization typically runs counter to the
settings of the cell phone as it is associated with the network service
provider. These and other shortcomings of the prior system devices will
be further revealed herein with reference to the figures, description,
and claims of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of
operation that are further described in the following Brief Description
of the Drawings, the Detailed Description, and the claims. Other features
and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
following detailed description of the invention made with reference to
the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a plurality of wireless
networks and a plurality of cell phone/wireless network enabled devices;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to one or
more embodiments of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a cell phone constructed
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functional software
components of a cell phone constructed according to one or more
embodiments of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to another
embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a cell phone constructed
according to one or more other embodiments of the present invention; and

[0020]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
other embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021]FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a plurality of wireless
networks and a plurality of cell phone/wireless network enabled devices.
The system 100 includes a plurality of wireless network infrastructures
and a plurality of wireless enabled devices. Each of the network
infrastructures supports wireless communications with one or more of the
wireless devices. Herein, each of these wireless devices may be referred
to as a cell phone even though its wireless link may be supported by a
non-cellular communication standard. Thus, according to the present
invention, any reference to cell phone or cellular telephone is to be
interpreted as that of a wireless phone or wireless device that is
supported by a wireless infrastructure. Further, some or more of the
wireless devices illustrated in FIG. 1 may support multiple communication
standards such that it/they can support communications not only with a
cellular network infrastructure but with a Wireless Local Area Network
(WLAN) infrastructure, a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
infrastructure, within a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), and/or
with another wireless network.

[0022]The system 100 of FIG. 1 includes an Internet/Worldwide
Web/PSTN/cell phone network backbone 102. Such network backbone 102
couples to a cellular network infrastructure 104, a WLAN network
infrastructure 106, and/or a WWAN network infrastructure 108. For
simplicity, a single cloud is shown for the network backbones 102.
However, in many embodiments, each of the cellular network infrastructure
104, the WLAN network infrastructure 106, and/or the WWAN network
infrastructure 108 may include separate network backbones. These various
network backbones may be circuit switched, and/or packet switched
networks.

[0023]Cellular network 104 supports wireless communications with one or
more of wireless devices 116, 118, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, and/or
136. The cellular network 104 supports cellular communications according
to one or more TDMA, FDMA, and/or CDMA communication standards, e.g.,
North American CDMA, WCDMA, LTE, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, etc. The WLAN network
infrastructures 106 may support communications according to any of the
various 802.11x communication standards. The WWANs network infrastructure
108 may support communications according to the WiMAX operating standard,
for example.

[0024]Various types of wireless devices are illustrated with the system
100 of FIG. 1. For example, these wireless devices may include laptop
computers 116 and 118, desktop computers 122 and 124, cellular phones 126
and 128 and/or wirelessly enabled terminals 130, 132, and/or 136. Each of
these wireless devices 116-136 includes one or more wireless network
interfaces that support wireless communications with one or more of
cellular network 104, WLAN 106, and/or WWAN 108 network infrastructures,
and/or point to point communications, e.g., WPAN communications.
Moreover, each of these wireless devices 116-136 may include a GPS
receiver that receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites 150 to
assist in determining GPS coordinates of the wireless devices 116-136.

[0025]According to various aspects of the present invention, any of the
wireless devices 116-136 may establish an association with a third-party
sponsor. Such third-party sponsor may be a corporation or another
business entity that sells products or services. The third-party sponsor
may also simply be an individual or group of persons, e.g., a family, a
business group, a club, etc. The desired association with a wireless
device 116-136 causes a relationship to exist between the third-party
sponsor and the wireless device. Supporting such relationships are
sponsor servers 112 and 113 that couple to the network backbone 102. As
contrasted to the association with a network operator, an association
with the sponsor server may provide direct marketing and/or operational
advantages to the wireless device 116-136. Network operator server 110
provides network operator services for cellular networks 104 while
network operator server 114 provides network operation support for the
WWANs networks 108. As will be described further herein, multiple
methodologies may be used to establish an association of the third-party
sponsor with one or more of the wireless devices 116-136. Such techniques
may include providing options to a user for association with a
third-party server. Such options may be provided via a communication link
between a wireless device 118 and a sponsor server 112, for example.
Further, such association with a third-party sponsor may be established
via a dedicated server such as network operator server 114 that provides
options to a user of wireless device 118 for selection and subsequent
association with a third-party sponsor.

[0026]As will be described further herein, association with a third-party
sponsor may provide operational advantages to a user of a wireless
device. For example, such association may allow the user to download user
interface settings not available via the network operator. Such user
interface settings may include software components that provide enhanced
functionality to the wireless device. Such software components may
include a COder/DECoder (CODEC) that is/are received from the sponsor
server in response to the association with the third-party sponsor. The
CODEC may be subsequently enacted to process custom content received from
a third-party sponsor computer, e.g., 113 to provide a user interface
experience to a user of the wireless device.

[0027]Further examples of operations supported according to the present
invention based upon association with a third-party sponsor include
receiving electronic advertisements from a third-party sponsor server
112, for example. These electronic advertisements are displayed upon the
user interface of wireless device 132, for example. These electronic
advertisements may provide coupons or click-thru ads to a user of the
wireless device. Usage of the cellular telephone 132 may result in
further sponsor benefits, e.g., certain usage of the cell phone 132
results in sponsor benefits such as discounts for products or services.
Based upon the association as well with the third-party sponsor, the
sponsor server 112 may download sponsor ads to the cell phone 132 when
the phone is idle. Such is possible because the association between the
cell phone 132 and the third-party sponsor as enabled by sponsor server
112. Because of association, the sponsor server 112 is able to determine
when the cellular phone 132 is idle and will download sponsor ads only
when such idle conditions occur.

[0028]According to another aspect of the present invention, the sponsor
server 112 may receive GPS coordinates of cell phone 128. In such case,
the sponsor server 112 may then provide information to the cell phone 128
that causes the cell phone to display a map to the user indicating a
location of the cell phone 128 and the location of at least one
third-party sponsor site on the map. For example, when the sponsor
operates a chain of coffee shops, the sponsor server 112 provides GPS
coordinates of a plurality of coffee shops that are proximate to the cell
phone 128. The cell phone 128 then displays on the map the location of
the coffee shops along with a current location of the cell phone 128.
Further, the sponsor server 112 may download discounts for purchase of
coffee at the proximately located coffee shops that the user of cell
phone 128 may use to receive a discount on coffee at the coffee shops.
Such coupon, however, which is electronic in form, may be limited for
download and usage at one of the identified coffee shops via
communication by a WPAN interface or WLAN interface local to the coffee
shop. In such case, the coupon exchange between the cell phone 128 and an
access point of WLAN of the coffee shop is secure and prevents
unauthorized use of electronic coupons to purchase coffee at the
location.

[0029]Additional operations according to the present invention may include
downloading a sponsor related ringtone to the cell phone and enacting the
sponsor related ring tone upon the third-party association. Additionally,
another operation based upon association with the third-party sponsor may
include receiving third-party sponsor settings that include a sponsor
telephone directory for subsequent display on a user interface of the
cell phone. Other operations may include downloading a sponsor sales
media interface to the cell phone and altering the user interface to
include the sponsor sales media interface. Moreover, operations
subsequent to association of the third-party sponsor may include
receiving at least one sponsor website link and altering a user interface
of the cell phone to include the at least one sponsor website link.
Further, for gaming environments, a third-party sponsor, which may be a
gaming company, may download a sponsor gaming interface to a cell phone
130 or wirelessly enabled device 122 based upon association of the
third-party sponsor. The user interface then may be altered to include
the sponsor gaming interface.

[0030]According to still other aspects of the present invention, each of
the wireless devices has hardware components that may be
configured/reconfigured based upon the sponsor association. For example,
the wireless devices may have wireless interfaces, processing circuitry,
user interface components, and/or other components that are
configured/reconfigured based upon the sponsor association. Such
configuration/reconfiguration may be initially set based upon one or more
initial sponsor associations and may be reset/reconfigured over time
and/or based upon additional sponsor associations. These aspects of the
present invention will be described further with reference to FIGS. 10
and 11.

[0031]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to one or
more embodiments of the present invention. The operations 200 of FIG. 2
commence with the cellular telephone establishing default user interface
settings consistent with a network operator association (Step 202). These
default user interface settings are typically established when a user
inserts a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card into a cell phone or
other wirelessly enabled device and the cell phone registers with its
network operator. Upon registration, the cell phone sets its default user
interface settings based upon its association with the network operator.

[0032]Operation proceeds with the cellular telephone determining a desired
association with a third-party sponsor (Step 204). As will be
subsequently described herein, this association may be determined upon
insertion of a differing SIM card that is associated with the third party
sponsor, upon registration with a third-party sponsor via a wired or
wireless link, or another technique employed for such third-party sponsor
association.

[0033]The cellular telephone then retrieves the third-party sponsor
settings based upon the association with the third-party sponsor (Step
206). The third-party sponsor settings may be retrieved via the wireless
interface of the cell phone, via a tethered interface of the cell phone,
or via a combination of wired and wireless communication links. The
cellular telephone then alters its user interface settings based upon the
third-party sponsor settings (Step 208). Alteration of the user interface
settings may include enacting a completely different user interface
experience for the user, displaying third-party sponsor links upon the
user interfaces cell phone, or enacting various other alterations of the
user interface based upon the third-party sponsor association. Finally,
the cellular telephone communicates with the third-party sponsor server
computer to exchange information relating to operation of the cellular
telephone (Step 210). Such exchange of information may include receiving
an advertisement of the third-party sponsor, uploading user operational
characteristics of the cell phone to the third-party sponsor server, or a
combination of both of these operations in order to enhance the users
operating experience. For example, coupons or advertisements may be
downloaded to the cellular telephone from the third-party sponsor server
based upon characteristics of the operation of the cellular telephone.
Examples of such operation were previously described with reference to
FIG. 1 and will be subsequently described herein with reference to
subsequent figures.

[0034]The cell phone settings that are set/altered based upon the
third-party sponsor settings may be temporarily set or permanently set.
Further, as will be described further with reference to FIG. 5, the
operation of the cell phone may be configured/reconfigured to accommodate
multiple third-party sponsors. Such alteration may be based upon time,
e.g., hourly, daily, based upon user input, e.g., user profile settings,
user command, and/or may be based upon location of the cell phone, e.g.,
GPS location compared to GPS location profile. For example, when a user
of the phone is proximate to a sponsor location, e.g., coffee shop,
third-party sponsor settings corresponding to the coffee shop owner may
be enacted with such third-party sponsor settings ceased after the cell
phone is a certain distance away from the coffee shop. Such operations
could also be performed based upon time of day. In the morning when a
user of the cell phone typically purchases coffee the cell phone could
enact the third-party sponsor settings for the cell phone. Then, after a
typical time period in which the user would typically buy coffee, other
third party sponsor settings may be enacted, e.g., those relating to
lunch based sponsors, exercise based sponsors, after hour based sponsors,
or other sponsors. Based upon the time of day, particular advertisements
may be provided to a user of the cell phone, attempting to influence the
purchasing decisions of the user. With another example, the cell phone
could enact one set of sponsor settings one day and another set of
sponsor settings another day.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a cell phone constructed
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The cell
phone 302 includes one or more wireless interfaces 304, a GPS receiver
306, processing circuitry 308, and one or more wired interfaces 310.
Further, the cell phone 302 includes memory 312, one or more user
interfaces 314, a SIM card 316 (receptacle for SIM card), a digital
camera 318, and battery 320. Wireless interfaces 304 may include one or
more of a cellular network interface, a WWAN network interface, a WLAN
network interface, and/or a WPAN network interface. The communication
standards supported by several of these wireless interfaces was described
herein with reference to FIG. 1. The GPS receiver 306 receives GPS
information from a plurality of GPS satellites to enable determination of
GPS coordinates of the cell phone 302.

[0036]Processing circuitry 308 includes one or more or multiple of a
system processor, digital signal processor, application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), custom logic, and/or other hardware
components. Processing circuitry 308 enables execution of software
instructions stored in memory 312 and processing of data that is also
stored in memory 312, written to memory 312, and/or retrieved from memory
312. The wired interface 310 may include one or more of a serial
interface and/or a parallel interface. For example, the wired interface
310 may include a USB interface, a fire wire interface, or another type
of interface that enables wired communications of the cell phone 302 to
another device also coupled to a wireless link.

[0037]Memory 312 includes one or more RAM, ROM, FLASHRAM, FLASHROM,
magnetic memory, optical memory, and/or another type of memory capable of
storing software instructions and data. The user interface 314 may
include a display, a keyboard, a pointing device, microphone, speakers,
and/or other components that interface the cell phone 302 with the user.
The SIM 316 is associated with a network operator or a combination of a
network operator and one or more third-party sponsors. The SIM 316
identifies the cell phone 302 for subsequent operations in conjunction
with a network operator and/or a third-party sponsor. Digital camera 318
is operable to take still and/or moving pictures and store such in memory
312. Battery 320 provides power for the cellular phone 302.

[0038]According to one aspect of the present invention, a desired
association of the third-party sponsor is based upon receipt of data from
the SIM 316 of the cellular phone 302. According to another aspect of the
present invention, the cellular phone 302 is operable to identify via a
display of the user interface 314 a plurality of available third-party
sponsors. Further, the cellular phone 302 is operable to receive input
via the user interface 314 from a user indicating selection of the
third-party sponsor of a plurality of available third-party sponsors.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, processing
circuitry 308 is operable to receive a coder/decoder (CODEC) from a
sponsor computer in response to association of third-party sponsor. Then,
processing circuitry 308 is operable to enable operation of the CODEC to
thereby alter user interface settings to process content receipt of a
third-party sponsor computer.

[0039]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functional software
components of a cell phone constructed according to one or more
embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a
communication/operational software protocol stack 402 includes a
plurality of components. The software protocol stack 402 illustrated in
FIG. 4 is not intended to be expansive or fully detailed with respect to
the operations of the present invention but instead is intended to
provide a general operational framework for the manner in which software
of the cell phone may be modified to enable or instantiate aspects of the
present invention. The software stack 402 includes communication protocol
stacks 416 and 418, operating system 410, a sponsor phone operating
system/user interface system shim 408, user interface system 406 and
sponsor phone operating system/user interface system 404.

[0040]Communication protocol stacks 414 and 418 support one or more
communication interface standards to enable communication between a cell
phone and a network infrastructure or another wirelessly enabled device.
The operating system 410 is initially loaded onto the cell phone via the
network operator or is pre-loaded from manufacture of the cell phone.
According to the present invention, the operating system 410 may be
modified based upon sponsor phone operating system modification 412.
Modifications 412 to the operating system 410 may include application
program interface (API) modifications, library modifications, operating
system (OS) stack modifications, etc. These modifications to the
operating system 410 are done based upon association with the third-party
sponsor. These modifications of the operating system 410 modify the
manner in which the cell phone functions. Another technique that may be
employed to modify operations of the cell phone according to the present
invention is to install a shim 408 between user interface system 406 and
the operating system 410. This shim is a sponsor phone operating
system/user interface system shim 408 that alters the OS/user interface
system interaction. Further, another technique to modify the cellular
telephone to operate according to the present invention is to install the
sponsor phone operating system/user interface system shim 404 above user
interface system 406. The sponsor phone operating system/user interface
system shim 404 alters the OS/user interface system interaction to modify
operation of cell phone based upon the association of third-party
sponsor.

[0041]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The operations 500 of FIG. 5 differ
from those illustrated previously in FIG. 2 in that the cell phone has
association with a plurality of third-party sponsors. The operations 500
of FIG. 5 commence with the cellular telephone establishing default user
interface settings consistent with a network operator (Step 502). The
cellular telephone then determines a desired association of multiple
third-party sponsors (Step 504). Then, based upon the association of
multiple third-party sponsors, the cellular telephone receives multiple
third-party sponsor settings (Step 506). The cellular telephone then
alters the user interface settings on a shared basis based upon the
multiple third-party sponsor settings (Step 508).

[0042]For example, the multiple third-party sponsor settings may be
complimentary in that the user interface may be shared by the multiple
third-party sponsors. However, in another embodiment, the user interface
may be time divided between the multiple third-party sponsors such that
one of the third-party sponsors has access to user interface at one point
and time and another of the third-party sponsors has access to the user
interface at a second point and time. This concept may have extended to
more than two third-party sponsors so that the user interface changes
somewhat over time based upon a then enacted third-party sponsor. Sharing
of the user interface between the third-party sponsors may be based upon
a value established for each of the third-party sponsors. Higher value
third-party sponsors may have greater access to the user interface of the
cell telephone while lower valued third-party sponsors may have lesser
access to the user interface of the cellular telephone.

[0043]Then, the cellular telephone communicates with third-party sponsored
computers associated with the multiple third-party sponsors to exchange
information related to operation of cellular telephone (Step 510). From
Step 510, operation may end or may return to any of Steps 504, 506,
and/or 508 where other third-party sponsors associations are established
or serviced.

[0044]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention. The operations 600 of FIG. 6
begin with the insertion of the sponsor SIM card into the cellular
telephone (Step 602). The sponsor SIM card includes attributes relating
to both the network operator that serves as the primary interface for the
cellular telephone, e.g., AT&T and also one or more third-party sponsors.
The sponsored SIM card inserted at Step 602 may be received from the
third-party sponsor or from the network operator itself that provides the
SIM card in conjunction with the third-party sponsor association.

[0045]The cellular phone then restarts or starts-up with the sponsored SIM
card inserted into a SIM card receptacle of the cellular telephone (Step
604). The cellular telephone then receives third-party sponsor settings
from the SIM card (Step 606). Upon receipt of the third-party sponsor
settings from the SIM card the cellular telephone registers with the
network operator (and optionally third party sponsor) based upon the SIM
card settings. The cellular telephone then alters its user interface
settings based upon the third-party sponsor settings (Step 608). User
interface settings may be determined by default based upon the
association with the network operator and then may be altered based upon
association with the third-party sponsor corresponding to the SIM card.
The cellular telephone then communicates with the third-party sponsor
server computer to exchange information relating to operation of cellular
telephone (Step 610). The operations performed at Step 608 and 610 are
consistent with the operations previously described for a cellular
telephone.

[0046]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
another embodiment of the present invention. The operations 700 of FIG. 7
are performed with the association of the third-party sponsor via a wired
or wireless communication link of the cellular telephone. In particular,
the wired or wireless communication link is enabled for the cellular
telephone (Step 702). This wired or wireless communication link may be
serviced by a wireless interface of the cellular telephone or a wired
interface of the cellular telephone. Using this communication link, the
cellular telephone offers third-party sponsor associations to the user
(Step 704). In offering the third-party sponsor associations, the
cellular telephone may link to a website sponsored by one or more
third-party sponsors or with a server associated with the network
operator. A web browser of the cellular telephone may be employed in
offering a plurality of third-party sponsors association available to the
user consistent with a network operator.

[0047]Based upon user input, the cellular telephone selects, associates
with, and downloads third-party sponsor settings (Step 706). The
third-party sponsor settings may be downloaded from a third-party sponsor
computer, a centralized third-party sponsor computer, or a network
operator server based upon the particular operation employed. Then, the
cellular telephone alters user interface settings based upon the
third-party sponsor settings (Step 708). The manner in which the user
interface settings are altered at the operation of Step 708 is consistent
with the operations previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 and
as will be subsequently described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The
cellular telephone then communicates with the third-party sponsor server
computer to exchange information relating to the operation of cellular
telephone (Step 710).

[0048]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention. The operations 800 of FIG. 8
commence with the cellular telephone/network service provider reporting
usage to a third-party sponsor server (Step 802). Some of the offers
provided in association with the third-party sponsor for the cellular
telephone may provide benefits to the user of the cellular telephone
based upon certain usage levels, e.g., 200 minutes, 500 minutes, 1000
minutes, etc. The third-party sponsor then determines rewards to offer to
the user of the cellular telephone based upon the usage (Step 804).
Offers that may be made to the user of the cellular telephone via the
cellular telephone include, for example, coupons provided to the cellular
telephone for a particular service offered by the third-party sponsor.
Other examples of offers would be simply advertisements that are provided
only to the user of the cellular telephone based upon a particular level
of usage of the cellular telephone by the user.

[0049]Based upon either automatic operations or based upon input received
from the cellular telephone from user input, the third-party sponsor
server downloads the offer or offers to the cellular telephone (Step
806). The cellular telephone then presents the third-party sponsor offer
to the cellular telephone via the user interface (Step 808). The cellular
telephone then communicates with the third-party sponsor server to
communicate acceptance of one or more of the third-party sponsor offers
(Step 810). For example, an electronic coupon may be provided to the
cellular telephone and presented to the user via the user interface. Such
offer may require the user to go to a location of the third-party sponsor
for collection of benefits corresponding to the coupon. With the example
of the coffee shop, a coupon for a free cup of coffee may be provided to
the user of the cellular telephone when user reaches certain minute usage
levels or data quantity download usage. This coupon may be then received
by a wireless network of the coffee shop using a WLAN or WPAN
communication interface of the cell phone. In this fashion, the
offer/coupon may be used when localized wireless communications with a
particular retail location of the coffee shop is met.

[0050]Alternatively, the usage of the cellular telephone by the user may
result in rewards for merchant credit that is applied to a merchant
account corresponding to the user before the particular merchant. Upon
acceptance of the reward and usage thereof by the user of the cell phone,
a report may be sent to the sponsor server that confirms the acceptance
of the offer. Acceptance of the offer may result in additional operations
or additional offers provided to the user of the cellular telephone by
the third-party sponsor.

[0051]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
another embodiment of the present invention. The operations 900 of FIG. 9
commence with the cellular telephone determining its GPS location (Step
902). The cellular telephone then reports its GPS location to a
third-party sponsor server (Step 904). The third-party sponsor computer
then downloads offers/operational data to the cellular telephone that is
based upon the GPS location received (Step 906). Such third-party sponsor
downloads offers/operational data may include downloading a map or map
data to the cellular telephone that relates to locations of third-party
sponsor server stores that allows the cellular telephone to determine its
location with reference to the stores of the third-party sponsor. The GPS
location information may be exchanged during the acceptance of an offer
made by the third-party sponsor (Step 908). Thus, the operations 900 of
FIG. 9 support additional offers and exchange of data or operational
configurations to the cellular telephone that are further based upon a
GPS location of cellular telephone and location preferences of the
third-party sponsor.

[0052]The described aspects of the present invention may include
additional user interface setting alterations as well, including the
alteration of phone settings, display background, tools, menus, and other
phone settings. Other usage models could include sponsor related menus
for food, e.g., pizza, being provided as the altered user interface. The
sponsor related menu could then be used to place orders with the sponsor.
Such ordering could use GPS coordinates of the wireless device to place
an order with a most proximate location or one that will be later
proximate, e.g., based upon navigation route of the wireless device. In
such case, the order would be placed with a location proximate to an
ending location of a GPS based route.

[0053]Offers made by the third party sponsor could be time limited.
Further, partnering between the network operator and the third party
sponsor could be established such that upon making a purchase or
acceptance of an offer with a third party sponsor, the network operator
provides additional services at a reduced rate or for free. For example,
considering the coffee shop example, a user of the wireless device could
receive cellular network service upon purchase of a set number of items,
e.g., 200 free minutes of coverage or a particular data download
quantity, e.g., 10 Gigabytes of data, upon purchase of five cups of
coffee.

[0054]The third party sponsor relationship could also be established when
the wireless device enters a locale, such as a theme park or shopping
mall. When the wireless device enters such locale, the user interface
could be altered based upon the third party sponsor relating to the
locale. In such case, the map of a mall or theme park could be provided
to the user upon the wireless device upon establishing the third party
sponsor relationship. A gaming or couponing application could then be
established for the wireless device that corresponds to the locale in
which the wireless device is operating. Subsequently, when the wireless
device leaves the locale, by GPS coordinate determination or cessation of
WLAN coverage, the special interface could be removed/disabled.

[0055]The third party sponsor relationship may also provide an information
sharing platform. For example, when the third party sponsor settings is
for a family, for example, members of a third party sponsor group may use
the third party sponsor computer to exchange information regarding their
activities, where to eat, etc.

[0056]According to another aspect of the present invention, the level of
control that a third party sponsor has over a user interface depends upon
the level of compensation it provides. For example, a third party sponsor
that provides high value may have substantial control of the user
interface, e.g., background settings, idle time ad delivery, etc.
Further, low compensation third party sponsors may only have limited
access to the user interface, e.g., twice daily banner ads, instant
messages, etc.

[0057]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a cell phone constructed
according to one or more other embodiments of the present invention. The
cell phone 1002 includes one or more reconfigurable wireless interfaces
1004, a GPS receiver 1006, reconfigurable processing circuitry 1008, and
one or more wired interfaces 1010. Further, the cell phone 1002 includes
memory 1012, one or more reconfigurable user interfaces 1014, a SIM card
1016 (receptacle for SIM card), a reconfigurable digital camera 1018, and
battery 1020. Reconfigurable wireless interfaces 1004 may include one or
more of a cellular network interface, a WWAN network interface, a WLAN
network interface, and/or a WPAN network interface. The communication
standards supported by several of these wireless interfaces were
described herein with reference to FIG. 1. The reconfigurable wireless
interface 1004 may be configured/reconfigured based upon association(s)
with one or more sponsors. Over time, the reconfigurable wireless
interface 1004 may be altered based upon sponsor settings. The
reconfigurable wireless interface 1004 may include one or more processing
components that may be configured/reconfigured based upon sponsor
settings. The GPS receiver 1006 receives GPS information from a plurality
of GPS satellites to enable determination of GPS coordinates of the cell
phone 1002.

[0058]Reconfigurable processing circuitry 1008 includes one or more or
multiple of a system processor, digital signal processor, application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), custom logic, video processor, audio
processor, communications interface processor, and/or other hardware
components. The reconfigurable processing circuitry 1008 enables
execution of software instructions stored in memory 1012 and processing
of data that is also stored in memory 1012, written to memory 1012,
and/or retrieved from memory 1012. The reconfigurable processing
circuitry 1008 may include a plurality of processing modules 1010A,
1010B, and 1010C that are configurable based upon one or more sponsor
associations. For example, these reconfigurable processing modules 1010A,
1010B, and/or 1010C may be configured for video processing, audio
processing, gaming, and/or other manners consistent with one or more
sponsor associations. With one particular example, one or more of the
reconfigurable processing modules 1010A, 1010B, and/or 1010C may be
configured consistently with a media service as a sponsor, e.g., Home Box
Office, Showtime, etc. When configured consistently with the sponsor
association, a processing module 1010B, for example, may be specially
configured to process media received from a sponsor server, e.g., to
process streamed media. In another example, when the sponsor is a gaming
company, one or more of the processing modules 1010A, 1010B, and/or 101C
may be configured for gaming, such that the cell phone 1002 operates
substantially as a gaming terminal.

[0059]Memory 1012 includes one or more RAM, ROM, FLASHRAM, FLASHROM,
magnetic memory, optical memory, and/or another type of memory capable of
storing software instructions and data. The memory 1012 may be
configured/reconfigured based upon one or more sponsor associations. For
example, the memory 1012 may be partitioned in differing manners based
upon the sponsor association(s). The memory 1012 may be partitioned
consistently with configuration of reconfigurable processing circuitry
1008.

[0060]The reconfigurable user interface 1014 may include a display, a
keyboard, a pointing device, microphone, speakers, and/or other
components that interface the cell phone 1002 with the user. One or more
components of the reconfigurable user interface 1014 may be
configured/reconfigured based upon one or more sponsor associations. The
SIM 1016 is associated with a network operator or a combination of a
network operator and one or more third-party sponsors. The SIM 1016
identifies the cell phone 1002 for subsequent operations in conjunction
with a network operator and/or a third-party sponsor. The wired interface
1011 may include one or more of a serial interface and/or a parallel
interface. For example, the wired interface 1010 may include a USB
interface, a fire wire interface, or another type of interface that
enables wired communications of the cell phone 1002 to another device
also coupled to a wireless link. Reconfigurable digital camera 1018 is
operable to take still and/or moving pictures and store such in memory
1012 and may be configured/reconfigured based upon one or more sponsor
associations. The digital camera Battery 1020 provides power for the
cellular phone 1002.

[0061]According to one aspect of the present invention, a desired
association of the third-party sponsor is based upon receipt of data from
the SIM 1016 of the cellular phone 1002. According to another aspect of
the present invention, the cellular phone 1002 is operable to identify
via a display of the user interface 1014 a plurality of available
third-party sponsors. Further, the cellular phone 1002 is operable to
receive input via the user interface 1014 from a user indicating
selection of the third-party sponsor of a plurality of available
third-party sponsors.

[0062]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to still
other embodiments of the present invention. The operations 1100 of FIG.
11 differ from those illustrated previously in FIGS. 2 and 5 in that
hardware components of the cell phone are configured/reconfigured based
upon one or more third-party sponsor associations. The operations 1100 of
FIG. 11 commence with the cellular telephone establishing default
hardware configuration settings consistent with a network operator and/or
manufacturer (Step 1102). The cellular telephone then determines a
desired association of at least one third-party sponsor (Step 1104).
Then, based upon the association with the at least one third-party
sponsor, the cellular telephone receives third-party sponsor settings
(Step 1106). The cellular telephone then alters at hardware settings of
one or more of its hardware components based upon the multiple
third-party sponsor settings (Step 1108). Such
configuration/reconfiguration may include altering processing circuitry
configurations, wireless interface configurations, digital camera
configurations, user interface configurations, and/or other hardware
settings of the phone.

[0063]Then, the cellular telephone communicates with one or more
third-party sponsored computers associated with the multiple third-party
sponsors to exchange information related to operation of cellular
telephone (Step 1110). From Step 1110, operation may end or may return to
any of Steps 1104, 1106, and/or 1108 where other third-party sponsors
associations are established or serviced. According to the operations of
FIG. 11, altering hardware configurations of the cell phone may be done
periodically, based upon user input, based upon interaction with a
third-party sponsor server, and/or based upon other criteria. The
hardware configurations may be altered daily, based upon a selected user
profile, based upon time of day, based upon locale (GPS location
determinant), and/or based upon other user input criteria or operational
criteria.

[0064]The terms "circuit" and "circuitry" as used herein may refer to an
independent circuit or to a portion of a multifunctional circuit that
performs multiple underlying functions. For example, depending on the
embodiment, processing circuitry may be implemented as a single chip
processor or as a plurality of processing chips. Likewise, a first
circuit and a second circuit may be combined in one embodiment into a
single circuit or, in another embodiment, operate independently perhaps
in separate chips. The term "chip," as used herein, refers to an
integrated circuit. Circuits and circuitry may comprise general or
specific purpose hardware, or may comprise such hardware and associated
software such as firmware or object code.

[0065]The present invention has also been described above with the aid of
method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and
relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional
building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for
convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be
defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are
appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are
thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

[0066]The present invention has been described above with the aid of
functional building blocks illustrating the performance of certain
significant functions. The boundaries of these functional building blocks
have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate
boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions
are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have
been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant
functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and
sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain
significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional
building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the
scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill in the
art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other
illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as
illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated
circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any
combination thereof.

[0067]As may be used herein, the terms "substantially" and "approximately"
provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or
relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from
less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not
limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations,
temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such
relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to
magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) "coupled
to" and/or "coupling" and/or includes direct coupling between items
and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an
item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit,
and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, the intervening item does
not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level,
voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein,
inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element
by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in
the same manner as "coupled to." As may even further be used herein, the
term "operable to" indicates that an item includes one or more of power
connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform one or more its
corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one
or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term
"associated with," includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate
items and/or one item being embedded within another item. As may be used
herein, the term "compares favorably," indicates that a comparison
between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired
relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1
has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be
achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2
or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

[0068]The present invention has also been described above with the aid of
method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and
relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional
building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for
convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be
defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are
appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are
thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

[0069]Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity and
understanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the present
invention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to one
of average skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be
practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limited only
by the scope of the appended claims.